Tim Burton's Non-Halloween Movies

We’re all in the Halloween spirit around here, which mainly consists of watching our favorite spooky movies. While excluding slasher flicks, the list seems to be filled with more and more Tim Burton movies every year. He is the master of the family friendly horror these days. So while flicking through the channels this weekend, I noticed ABC Family was having a “Spooktacular Sunday” full of Halloween-esque movies. Many of them were Burton movies, but not necessarily the ones that should have been there. In order to prevent any confusion, save the following films for the other 11 months of the year. These are our non-Halloween appropriate Tim Burton movies.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

It’s definitely a creepy movie filled with oddball events and imagery. Even candy is involved, but it just doesn’t fit. Especially if you put it up against the other entries in the Tim Burton catalog. I’d even say the film’s inherent brightness is a contributing factor.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Yes, believe it or not Tim Burton directed the Mark Wahlberg remake, which I thoroughly enjoyed at the time. But even speaking apes and astronauts can’t make this a fitting fall movie. It has summertime blockbuster written all over it.

Mars Attacks! (1996)

I’d actually recommend you not watch this at any point during the year. For those not familiar it’s a weird alien project starring a ton of actors known for movies better than this. I was into the idea of it when it came out. I was eight. But even then it was just weird.

Big Fish (2003)

One of the director’s best films is also one of his most unique. It’s filled with oddities like the others, but it's a balanced film that would appeal to a more wide-ranging demographic than some of the others.

Batman (1989)

This actually fits well with the makings of a good Halloween movie. But if you’re looking to superhero movies for your late October kicks than I suggest you do a little more digging. Jack Nicholson’s Joker spawned thousands of costume imitations, which were accompanied by terrible laugh impersonations. It’s funny, the same thing happened after The Dark Knight in 2008.

Check back closer to the 31st for our list of Halloween suggestions. Tim Burton will definitely be on that list at least once.